SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Application Requirements:

• All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, October 31, 2024.
• Applicants may be required to submit to an interview. If your application is selected for an interview, you will be informed via email.
• Individuals who have previously received a scholarship from DSF may not be eligible, but applications will be accepted for consideration.
• For questions, please contact dsfchicago.scholarships@gmail.com.
• Individuals who receive scholarships must attend the Unity Award Gala (TBD – expected January 2025). Failure to be present or participate as required by DSF during the award presentation will result in forfeiture of the scholarship.

PLEASE NOTE: THE DSF/PILI INTERNSHIP FOR SPRING 2025 HAS A SEPARATE APPLICATION PROCESS. The Diversity Scholarship Foundation is proud to be partnering with the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) to provide a paid internship with an Illinois public interest agency to a deserving law student in the spring of next year! PILI’s Law Student Internship Program connects law students with public interest law agencies in Illinois and pays them for their work. Interns receive $3,250.00 for working 200 hours during a semester. Interns can also receive law school credit for their Internship if first approved by both the student’s law school and agency. PILI ensures quality supervision by experienced attorneys while also providing supplemental programmatic, networking and educational opportunities. The application period for 2025 Spring Semester Internships will open at 10:00 a.m. on October 15, 2024. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and can be submitted online through the website at pili.org/apply.

A complete application must include the following:

Resume
Transcript including at least two semesters of coursework. NOTE: Applicants must have completed two semesters of law school coursework to qualify for a scholarship unless applying for the LSAT scholarship as an undergraduate student.
Up to two (2) letters of recommendation from individuals not related to you.
An essay of no more than 500 words explaining your commitment to advocating for diversity in the legal profession or your experience as a diverse student. You may use an additional page to discuss any additional information (financial or otherwise) that you feel is relevant to your application in an essay of no more than 250 words.
PLEASE READ THE APPLICATION AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY! Frequently asked questions are addressed at diversitychicago.org/faq/. Failure to follow application instructions will result in negative evaluation scores by the Scholarship Committee. Any scholarship-related questions or inquiries should be sent to dsfchicago.scholarships@gmail.com.

Step 1 of 2

Name*
First Last
Email Address (please supply a regularly-checked email address)*

Mailing Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Permanent Address (scholarship awards will be mailed to this address)*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Phone*
Personal Email Address (do not use a school email address)*
Law School*
Year (1L, 2L, 3L)*
Please be accurate. If your designation does not match the year in your resume, you may be disqualified from consideration.
Expected Graduation
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Cumulative GPA*
In which scholarship(s) are you interested? Check all that apply*
Essay of NO MORE than 500 words explaining your commitment to advocating for diversity in the legal profession or your experience as a diverse student that will benefit the legal profession on admission to the bar.*
OPTIONAL essay of NO MORE than 250 words regarding any additional information (financial or otherwise) that you feel is relevant to your application.
Name of Reference - Recommendation Letter 1*
First Last
Name of Reference - Recommendation Letter 2 (Optional)
First Last
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANT AGREEMENT I, the undersigned applicant, understand that if I am awarded a Diversity Scholarship Foundation (DSF) Scholarship, I must be enrolled in good standing at least half-time in an ABA accredited law school at the time of the award and have completed two semesters. By accepting the award, I also agree to have my photograph taken and published, along with my identity, in any and all DSF promotional, marketing or press release materials. Further, I agree that I will be present at and during the presentation of the scholarship at the Unity Award Gala (date TBD). Failure to be present during the award presentation and through the end of the program, or participate as otherwise required by DSF, will result in forfeiture of the scholarship.*
- I understand and agree to abide by each and every provision in the foregoing agreement.
I understand that I must comply with all stated policies and conditions of the Scholarship, and that the funds awarded are to be used only for tuition, course-related expenses, or reasonable living expenses while enrolled in law school. I understand that my failure to comply with all DSF policies and conditions of the Scholarship may result in the forfeiture of the entirety or a portion of the Scholarship award. In such event, I will return the entirety or required portion of the Scholarship monies to DSF promptly upon written demand. Failure to return these monies may result in collection efforts and legal action against me. To the extent allowable by law, the recipient will be responsible for all costs, fees, and expenses incurred by the DSF in seeking recovery of the award monies.*
- I understand and agree to abide by each and every provision in the foregoing agreement.
I understand that the officers and directors of the DSF, members of the Scholarship Selection Committee, and their immediate families are ineligible for the Scholarships. I also understand that all materials submitted to the DSF will become the property of the DSF and that the DSF reserves the right to issue public announcements regarding the Scholarship award recipients.*
- I understand and agree to abide by each and every provision in the foregoing agreement.
I certify that all statements and information contained herein and in all application materials submitted by me are true, correct, and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I certify that the essay attached hereto was prepared and written solely by me and is my original work. I affirm that I can attend the Unity Award Ceremony throughout the entire program. Failure to be present during the award presentation and through the end of the program will result in forfeiture of the scholarship.*
- I understand and agree to abide by each and every provision in the foregoing agreement.
Signature*
Resume*
File should be saved as: Last Name, First Name RESUME
Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.
Transcript (*ensure this is not a password-protected PDF)*
File should be saved as: Last Name, First Name TRANSCRIPT
Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.
Letter of Recommendation*
File should be saved as: Last Name, First Name REC LETTER 1
Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.
Letter of Recommendation 2
File should be saved as: Last Name, First Name REC LETTER 2
Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 512 MB.